Wednesday, Ads, Movie

 Wednesday, we both had a doctor's appointment. The podiatrist trims our toenails and tells us how our feet are doing. Tommy is treated to a vibrating trim. I hate it because it hurts me so. She just gouges, pulls, and digs out the ingrown toenails. I highly approve. Once that was done, I went to Lowe's to talk to someone about an electrician. She was not there. 

As soon as the doctor came into the room, she said, "Oh, you have lost weight!" No, I had not, not one ounce. It was the outfit I was wearing, the striped pants and top. They are tighter than when I bought them five years ago. Still, they are loose and flattering. I was pleased and flattered by her comment. Now, I need to lose weight. I have an event next year where I would prefer to be lighter

While walking down an aisle in Lowe's, I saw a man approaching that looked very capable. I stopped him and spoke. He said he was a carpenter but could put in a light fixture. Daddy could safely put in a light fixture, so I was going to let him. Tommy said no. So, the search is still on. 

I bought a medallion to put above the chandelier in the dining room. Tommy has an Auburn banner that needs a dowel to hang. I cannot seem to find a ready-made one. I can stain it, make a notch on each end, and attach appropriate cord to hang. He has had it ten months just folded up. And, he got to pick out his gift with no input from me. 

Today, the heat index was over 100F at 7 pm. I need to paint the mailbox and have the urge but not the motivation with the heat so high. There was no rain today, thankfully. I want to paint the post black and the box red. This is in prep for Christmas. Besides, no one else has a red mailbox on this street or anywhere nearby.

For lunch today, I ate a portion of the bscb with the last half of a tomato and a bit of MW. The tomato chopped was almost a cupful. Amazing. The tomatoes are huge and juicy. Also, I had a half of a banana. I was satiated until 5 pm. 

We cooked 6 bscb and I froze 3. We prepared carrots and potatoes. He put them in the chicken broth in the crockpot. Almost an hour later, they were still hard and we were hungry. So, they are in the oven now. 

We collected the three ads today. I shopped in The Pig and Publix. I found Special K cheaper than bogo at Public by shopping at the Pig. They forgot to give me my 5% discount for being a senior and shopping on Wednesday. I bought very little--Special K, bread, and discounted salad that looked very fresh. I bought bananas and ice cream at Publix.

It hurts Tommy to get in and out of the car so many times, plus walking in the store. I felt well, plus my hair was clean and I was dressed to go inside. 

We will go through the ads more thoroughly and make a list to shop further. I need to find bscb at a price that suits me. I still hope to find it for $1.99/lb. We still have some in freezer, but I need to keep the supply stocked. 

Inside The Pig was shocking. Almost half the store was torn apart while they are getting it ready for sharing the store with Ace Hardware. I wonder if they will cut down on the number of food items they will carry. 

Dinner tonight was chicken, carrots, potatoes. I also had five strawberries. 

Tonight, we watched The Manchurian Candidate, a real shocker. Have you ever seen this movie? 

Feels like temp on Thursday will be between 105F and 110F. Wow. 

The Pig in Cullman has an Ace section. It is not nearly as large as the one here. 

Did you ever see a man in Lowe's or elsewhere who just looked capable? 

Do you shop at a Piggly Wiggly where Ace Hardware is sharing the space?

Are you always on the lookout for cheap protein of choice? 

Tuesday & Piggly Wiggly is Closing

The Tuesday lunch and the whole day just about did me in. I could not sleep Monday night, so I set the alarm for 8:30 am to wash my hair which I should have done Monday night. Somehow, the alarm was set to soft instead of loud and went off for an hour before I heard it. Even with an extra hour's sleep, I was not motivated to get up. When exbf arrived, I was sitting on my bed with wet hair and not dressed to leave the house.

I spent 30 minutes becoming presentable. Even though my hair was still damp, I left, ready to go to the lunch.

First, we went to Harbor Freight where I got 2 sets of bungee cords, one for each of us at the cost of $0.43 for each set. Well, the cords were free, but the $0.49 utility knife cost me $0.49 - 20% + tax = $0.43. Now, I can commence with the chipmunk trap.

My hair was mostly dry, so I came home, used the curling iron a bit, fixed my hair and we left for the church. We try to get there early to get a close handicapped parking place. I put on my makeup in the car, and we talked. Finally, I went in and found someone to take a wheelchair out and get him.

Lunch was chicken and dumplings, a side of peas, and a piece of celery, piece of carrot and pickle spear, unsweetened tea.. I declined the peas and asked them to put them on his plate. He was so happy to have the extra peas. He also ate either some of my carrot or celery. I brought home celery and carrot in a napkin to add to food I cook.

The guys with stringed instruments played and sang while we ate. Nice.

The interim minister announced that any of the food bags we wanted were in the back of the church. Plus, we could take sweet potatoes. All this was left from the last event where they give food with no means test. Naturally, I got the food bag and more sweet potatoes, maybe 3 pounds.

Since Piggly Wiggly is closing, I had him take me out there. This a store I never visit because besides being in the opposite direction of all the other stores, they only have two electric carts, and it spooks me to get off the highway into their parking lot.

People who live out that way in the country and have to come into town to shop use this store. They will sorely miss PW because they will have to drive about 5 miles further. Those employees will no longer have a job.

While I was in PW, I saw a lone office chair with a sign "$5 cash" and dragged it along since it had wheels. A manager helped me by dragging it out to exbf to see if it fit him. He is uncomfortable in every chair I have. He struggles to get up. Finally, I bought a lawn chair that I keep here for him...in the house. It is still uncomfortable, but the best I have in terms of his comfort.

He grumbled about the chair but I bought it and someone loaded it into the back of his vehicle. Then and only then, did he tell me how awful it was. grrrr Speak up sooner.

In PW I bought Dominoes powdered sugar for $0.75, a good price and a pack of soup mix and a pack of Concord potato garnish stuff. You slice potatoes lengthwise, sprinkle this stuff on them and bake. There is only a tsp of oil on pounds of potatoes. However, I never bake pounds.

We went to WM to check on status of a TV. While there, I sold the chair for $10 to an employee. No, I did not feel guilty since exbf was using his gas and time.

Remember the soup on sale at Publix? I made one of the pouches for him and put a handful of meat in it, a full portion. I had one taste. He loved it. Then, I baked him a Raspberry Turnover, bought on sale at Publix and sent another baked turnover home with him. He loved the one he ate, too. His dinner was about $1.25, soup and turnover. Best of all, it was so easy to prepare.

Have you ever shopped in a Piggly Wiggly? Piggly Wiggly was the first modern style store with people getting their own merchandise instead of handing a list to the proprietor. Grocery carts were first used and every item was priced. The first Piggly Wiggly was opened in Memphis, TN, where I grew up. The founder built a beautiful home out of pink marble. People called it The Pink Palace. Now, it is a museum.

The Market and The Pig and Chicken News

trip to farmer's market
dappled sunlight caused these tomatoes to look strange

Watermelon--$3

tomatoes--$4

Scuppernong--$1

 

This was my first watermelon this year. I cannot handle a larger one and always forgot when exbf was here to pick one up. If these tomatoes are good, I may  go back on Thursday get enough to can some for soup this winter. Well, my bank account will have to be consulted...lol. My scuppernong arbor is ruined and on the ground, so these are a treat.

 

This month, I am going to track carefully what I spend on food. So, putting this on my blog will help since I did not get three receipts for my shopping today. This is the last month for the market.

 

After I had the barium swallow and before I went to the market, I went to The Pig--Piggly Wiggly. It is very bright, clean, well-appointed. So, I got a sale paper and set about making decisions. I only wanted one thing on sale--Romaine--listed in the ad for $.99. While I was looking at the really wilted heads, the produce manager walked by. All the Romaine was wilted, even the heads he brought from the cooler. So, I got the leaf lettuce for $.99. So much for The Pig.

 

Unfortunately, I did a price match at Walmart and got the Romaine. I must eat more green, leafy vegetables. I have feta cheese bought half-price from Food World as it marked things down. Now, I have tomatoes. Plus, there is leftover chicken and turkey waiting.

 

My little pink bistro table is ruined. See it above. I had put plastic over it to paint. Someone moved it and got the plastic all around the legs. Sooo, I could not move the plastic. Wellll, I could, but I kept tripping over the plastic tarp. Now, my table has rust....grrrr. Where did I put that sandpaper?

 

Hens

Patsy Cline and Thelma were interested in my bringing produce from the car to yard. They are always interested in anything in my hands. It could be food for them. I dumped the produce on the table and ran inside to go to the bathroom. While I was in the house, I grabbed two pair of pants that needed to be hung on the line. As I stood at the clothesline with the black pants draped over my arm, the hens were sort of at the other end of the clothesline, not really paying attention. As I removed one pair of pants from my arm, that pair naturally became a little longer.

Well, panic ensued. When one hen startles, they all startle. Patsy Cline is skittish, so I am sure she was the one who started it all. Both hens simultaneously screeched, jumped and cackled as they ran in opposite directions. Actually, their actions sort of startled me, then amused me. Patsy Cline ran to the side fence and ran back and forth cackling. Thelma ran the length of the back yard, cackling.

I quickly hung the two pair of pants on the line and turned to look at Patsy Cline. She was still walking back and forth, looking at the top of the 6' privacy fence, considering flying up. By this time Thelma was settled down. Giving up and going into the house was the only thing I could think of doing.

Thelma has never been afraid of me. But, with Patsy Cline startling every time I bring food into their pen, Thelma rushes to get away from my approaching feet.

I found a quarter and a dime in The Pig's parking lot--$0.35.

Such was my Tuesday.

Your turn
Are produce markets in your area still going? Do you have hens that startle and start a cacophony of cackling, run about, and generally act like the sky is falling?